Pocket toothbrush with removable brush head



May 20, 1958 L. F. PERWAS 2,834,975

POCKET TOOTHBRUSH WITH REMOVABLE BRUSH HEAD Filed July 3, 1953 IN VEN TOR.

ATTCIRN 5Y5 United States Patent POCKET TOOTHBRUSH WITH REMOVABLE BRUSH HEAD Ludwig F. Perwas, New York, N. Y.

Application July 3, 1953, Serial No. 365,896

2 Claims. (Cl. -176) This invention relates to toothbrushes of the enclosed type, in which a replaceable brush head is mounted in a handle and covered with a cap, the cap and handle both being rectangular-shaped in cross section, and also in which a reservoir in the handle is adapted to be filled with liquid, paste or powder through a funnel in the extended endlof the handle, the funnel being enclosed with a closure cap frictionally held on said extended end of the handle.

The purpose of this invention is to provide a pocket toothbrush having a reservoir in the handle and in which the brush head is readily replaceable.

Various types of toothbrushes have been provided with caps covering the brush heads and other toothbrushes have been formed with reservoirs in the handles; however, with the conventional type of toothbrush it is diffi cult to use a closure cap over the brush head without making the bristles of the brush comparatively short. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates a toothbrush having a hollow handle with a brush head removably mounted in the end of the handle and covered with a cap frictionally held on the handle, in which the body of the handle is rectangular-shaped in cross section and the shank of the brushhead is offset whereby with the head of the brush positioned on the long side of the handle and with the back of the head in one side of the handle the bristles of the brush, which extend across the center to the opposite side of the handle may be comparatively long.

The object of this invention is, therefore, to provide means for forming a pocket toothbrush with a reservoir in the handle whereby the reservoir is comparatively long in one direction and, with the head ofiset, the brush head may he provided with comparatively long bristles.

Another object of the invention is to provide a toothbrush of the type having an enclosed head and a hollow handle in which the end of the handle is provided with a tunnel to facilitate filling the interior thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved toothbrush of the type having a reservoir in the handle and a removable brush head in which the toothbrush is of a simple and economical construction.

With these and other objects and advantages in view, the invention embodies a toothbrush having an elongated handle, rectangular-shaped in cross-section with a brush head having an o-ifset shank temporarily secured in one end of the handle with a lock nut and with a funnel carried by a retaining sleeve in the opposite end of the handle and covered with a closure cap.

Other features and advantages of the invention will appear from the following description taken in connection with the drawing, wherein:

Figure 1 is a longitudinal section through the pocket toothbrush taken on the long axis of the rectangular shaped body and in which a portion of the toothbrush head is shown in elevation.

Figure 2 is a cross section through the toothbrush taken on line 22 of Figure 1.

2,834,975 Patented May 20, 1958 Figure 3 is a detail showing a section taken on line 3-3 of Figure l with the parts shown on an enlarged scale and illustrating the removable connection of the brush head to the handle.

Figure 4 is a detail showing the removable brush head and also with the parts shown on an enlarged scale.

Figure 5 is a detail illustrating the splined lock nut for securing the brush head in the end of the handle.

Figure 6 is a detail showing the packing washer for sealing the end of the handle around the shank of the brush head.

Figure 7 is a detail illustrating a splined retaining Washer in which the projections of the end of the shank of the brush are held.

Figure 8 is an end elevational view looking toward the end of the handle in which the brush head is'mounted with the brush head and cap removed.

Figure 9 is a cross section through the lower part of the handle taken on line 99 of Figure 1.

Referring now to the drawing wherein like reference characters denote cor-responding parts the improved pocket toothbrush of this invention includes a handle 10, rectangular shaped in cross section, a brush head '11 hav ing an offset shank or stem 12, a cap 13 positioned over the brush head and frictionally held to the end of the handle, a retaining sleeve 14 positioned in the end of the handle opposite to that in which the brush head is mounted, a funnel 15 secured in the end of the sleeve 14 and a closure cap 16 frictionally secured in the retaining sleeve 14 by a plug 17.

The end of the handle in which the brush head is mounted is provided with a tapering section 18, particularly as shown in Figure '3, with an internally threaded socket 19 in the extended end, a-n'annular recess 20 in which a retaining washer 21, as shown in Figure 7, is positioned, a bore 22 extended below the retaining nut and a bore 23 extended from the bore 22 to the end 24 of an inner sleeve 25.

A lock nut 26 threaded in the socket 19 at the end of the handle is provided with longitudinally disposed grooves 27 and 28 through which lugs or projections 29 pass as the brush head is inserted and removed. The lower ends of the grooves 27 and 28 terminate at the upper surface of the end 24 of the sleeve 25 preventing the lugs 29 dropping through the end 24. It will be noted that the sealing washer 30, shown in Figure 6, is positioned between the inner end of the lock nut 26 and retaining washer 21 and, being of rubber, or other resilient material the ring is adapted to expand to permit passage of the projections 29. However, when the lock nut 26 is forcibly threaded into position, it will engage the sealing washer 3t] and compress it against the shank 12 of the brush head 11 to securely retain the brush head 11 in position. During the operation, the brush head 11 is pulled outwardly so that the projections 29 on the shank 12 are retained in the groove 47 until the sealing washer 30 has been adequately compressed.

The brush head 11 is provided with bristles 31 and it will be understood that the back and bristles of the brush may be of any suitable design.

The retaining sleeve 14, in the opposite end of the handle is cemented, or otherwise permanently secured in position and the extended end or neck 33 thereof is secured to the funnel 15 also with cement or other suitable holding means.

The closure cap 16 is provided with an annular recess 34 providing a lip 35 at the inner edge and the plug 17, which is provided with slits 36 forming spring fingers 37 is secured to the cap 16 with a rivet or other fastener, and as indicated by the numeral 38. The spring fingers permit the extended end of the plug to contract as it passes through the retaining sleeve 14.

The cap 13 is provided with a ventilating opening 40 in the end and with similar openings 41 in the sides and a reinforcing metal band 42 is placed around the open end whereby, with the cap formed of plastic, a metal band prevents expanding or splitting thereof. A similar band 43 may be placed around the upper part of the cap and it will be understood that the cap may be provided with as many bands as may be desired. It will also be understood that the cap may be formed of metal and bands of different colors may be placed around the outer surface.

The lock nut 26 is formed with a rounded head 44 with a threaded shank 45 extended from the head and the grooves 27 and 28 are provided at the sides of a bore 46 which extends through the nut.

The retaining washer 21, as illustrated in Figure 7, is provided with a transversely disposed slot 47 and also with vertically disposed grooves 48 and 49 whereby the projections 29 are adapted to pass through grooves 27 and 28 in the lock nut and also through the grooves 48 and 49 of the retaining washer, and after passing through the grooves 48 and 49 the brush head is turned through an angle of 90 degrees with the projections 29 positioned in the transversely disposed slot 47.

With the parts assembled as disclosed and described the pocket toothbrush of this invention may be carried with the brush head covered and with the open area in the handle filled with paste, powder, or the like and when use of the brush is desired the cap 16 is removed, withdrawing the plug 17 and dentifrice may be applied to the bristles of the brush.

To replace the brush head it is only necessary to turn the head until the projections 29 register with the slots or grooves 27 and 28.

When it is desired to replenish dentifrice in the handle the closure cap 16 is removed with the plug 17 and with these parts removed the funnel 15 facilitates refilling the handle.

It will be understood that other modifications, within the scope of the appended claims may be made in the design and arrangement of parts without departing from the spirit of the invention.

What is claimed is:

1. In a pocket toothbrush, the combination which comprises a tubular handle having an open extended end and having .an outwardly tapering portion on the opposite end, said outwardly tapered portion having a bore therethrough with an internally threaded counterbore in the outer end, a lock nut having a circular bore, and a pair of grooves extending longitudinally of the lock nut and positioned in diametrically opposed sides of the circular bore, said lock nut being threaded in the counterbore, a compressible sealing Washer positioned at the inner end of the lock nut, a retaining nut in the outwardly tapered portion and positioned to engage the sealing Washer, and a brush head having an offset stem with oppositely disposed lugs 0n the outer surface positioned with the lugs in said retaining nut, the lower portion of said outwardly tapered portion having an inner sleeve providing limiting means being positioned to be engaged by said lugs, said handle having a closure in the extended end.

2. in a pocket toothbrush, the combination which comprises a tubular handle having an open extended end and having an outwardly tapering portion on the opposite end, said outwardly tapered portion having a bore therethrough with an internally threaded counterbore in the outer end, a lock nut having a circular bore, and a pair of grooves extending longitudinally of the lock nut and positioned in diametrically opposed sides of the circular bore, said lock nut being threaded in the counterbore, a sealing washer positioned at the inner end of the lock nut, a retaining nut in the outwardly tapered portion and positioned to engage the sealing washer, a brush head having an offset stem with oppositely disposed lugs on the outer surface positioned with the lugs in said retaining nut, the lower portion of said outwardly tapered portion having an inner sleeve providing limiting means being positioned to be engaged by said lugs, said handle being rectangular-shaped in cross section, a retaining sleeve positioned in the extended end of the handle and having a bore extended therethrough and a cap having a tube extended therefrom with the cap adapted to be positioned on the end of the handle and with the tube extended through the retaining sleeve.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 434,295 Richardi Aug. 12, 1890 1,249,529 Smith Dec. 11, 1917 1,294,304 Pittman Feb. 11, 1919 1,586,904 Kuhn June 1, 1926 2,416,684 Fischer Mar. 4, 1947 2,455,600 Malumby Dec. 7, 1948 2,500,299 Spitzkeit Mar. 14, 1950 2,544,857 Perwas Mar. 13, 1951 2,707,295 Perwas May 3, 1955 FOREIGN PATENTS 416,776 Great Britain Sept. 20, 1934 965,654 France Sept. 19, 1950 

